Q. What frequency can I expect to be paid as a contractor?
A. We operate weekly, fortnightly and monthly pay and invoice with our own dedicated payroll administrator.

Q. Limited Company set up?
A. We highly recommend Brookson www.brookson.co.uk Providers of Ltd & Umbrella services

Q. Can I operate as a sole trader?
A. No, We are unable to work with sole traders as we could be held responsible for your tax and NI if you failed to pay.

Q. Can I get myself cleared?
A. No, clearance can only be sponsored by a client.

Q. How can I check if my clearance is still valid or active?
A. You can approach the DVA yourself or we are able to check on your behalf with the DVA.

Q. What is the purpose of Security Vetting?
A. Purpose of vetting. We carry out personnel security vetting so that people may take certain jobs or carry out particular tasks that need security clearance. These jobs and tasks range throughout the Nuclear Energy Sector. Also, many people who work in industry on related work need clearances. And certain other government departments pay us to carry out investigation work. The aim of personnel security vetting is to make sure that people who are given access to sensitive information are unlikely to abuse the trust placed in them. Although the vetting process can sometimes show that someone is unsuitable for a job or task, it can never guarantee that they will be reliable. The 'snapshot' of the person being vetted is only accurate at the moment of the security assessment. After that, good personnel security relies on line managers maintaining and monitoring the judgement made by security staff, until the clearance is reviewed and re-issued. Only a small number of vetting cases make us concerned enough to withdraw or deny a security clearance, as most of the people we screen are reliable, honest and trustworthy. But security vetting is useful as there is no way of judging the damage those few people might have caused if it had not shown us they were unsuitable for a particular job or task. The security vetting process will sometimes reveal character flaws or other circumstances that might make some people serious security risks. Some of these people will be refused employment, and others will be carefully monitored or moved to less sensitive work. Security vetting procedures discourage people with flaws in their background from applying for Nuclear energy related work

Q. Why do I need Security Vetting or Clearance?
A. civilian staff will need a BC and we will vet everyone who needs access to protected material. Although everyone is covered by a BC, the same is not true of the SC and DV. Most Nuclear sites staff, for example a standard BC. Various sites around the country require higher levels upto SC and even as high as DV for very sensitive material. A much smaller percentage of staff and contractors have a DV clearance. Given that DVs are many times more expensive to process than the lower-level clearances, we try to keep the number of these high-level clearances to an absolute minimum. We deal with many thousands of clearances a year. We find that most of the people who need clearances at SC and DV level are reliable and responsible. But sometimes we do spot people who have problems and so could be a risk. These problems can be things such as a known association with a terrorist group, severe financial problems, personal problems that might make the person vulnerable to outside pressure, certain medical conditions, or a history of breaking the law. Whenever security problems arise, we have to judge whether the risk is manageable, and the best way for security staffs and, if appropriate, line managers to supervise the person and monitor the problem. Each problem presents us with a different set of risks and threats that we have to assess within the overall structure of the Government's vetting policy. We only find it necessary to recommend withdrawing or refusing a clearance in the most exceptional cases. When this happens, the person concerned has the right to appeal, unless clearance is part of the recruitment process.

Q. What different types of clearance are there?
A. We carry out four main types of vetting clearance.
1. Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) This check gives people access to government buildings where there is a specific threat from terrorism, to Government establishments, but not to protectively marked-assets such as classified documents.
2. Security Check (SC) This is the most widely held clearance. It is needed for jobs involving long-term, frequent and uncontrolled access to SECRET, and occasional and controlled access to TOP SECRET assets and information. We normally review this clearance every ten years.
3. Developed Vetting (DV) This higher level of security clearance is needed for the most sensitive jobs and tasks, involving long-term and uncontrolled access to TOP SECRET information. DV clearances are regularly reviewed.
4. Basic Checks (BC) We also carry out a limited number of BASIC Checks (BC) to confirm the identity of a person, although the recruiting authorities or Defence Industry companies themselves usually do these. A BC is an essential pre-requisite for all three levels of security clearance.
As well as carrying out and reviewing clearances, we sometimes need to do follow-up work. Doubts about a person's security status can show up during the vetting process (although we may give a clearance), or may be pointed out to us later. The investigation work that follows is known as "Aftercare", and may be needed in connection with any of the clearance levels.

Q. What other locations do you provide contractors and staff to Locations

A. See list below as a guide

Locations we regularly source staff for include Glasgow, BNG HQ Warrington, Risley, Harwell, Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, Exeter, Sellafield Nuclear Power Stations, Dungeness A Nuclear Power Station , Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station, Bradwell A Nuclear Power Station, Bradwell B Nuclear Power Station, Sizewell A Nuclear Power Station, Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station, Faslane Naval Base, Plymouth Naval Base, Barrow-in-furness Naval Base, Hunterston A Nuclear Power Station, Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station, Torness Nuclear Power Station, Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station, Dounreay Nuclear Power Station, Drigg Nuclear Waste Storage Centre, Calder Hall Nuclear research centre, Hartlepool Power Station , Heysham Nuclear Power Station, Eggborough Power Station, Springfields Nuclear , Capenhurst Nuclear Power Station , Wylfa Nuclear Power Station , Trawsfynnydd Nuclear Power Station, British Energy HQ Barnwood Gloucester, Berkley Nuclear Power Station, Culham Jet Nuclear Research Centre, Winfrith, Hinkley Point A Nuclear Power Station and Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station Somerset.